The California Aikido Association is Formed
Posted 1/27/2002 11:44am [from Jun Akiyama]
I just got word that the California Aikido Association (CAA) has been formed "from a majority of the AANC membership." Their "About" page on the CAA site states, in part, "The Aikido of Northern California Yudansha Kai was organized in 1974 by black belt holders dedicated to the task of exploring the path shown by Master Ueshiba, and to teaching Aikido philosophy and techniques to all those who wished to follow. In 1980, the name of the Yudansha Kai was changed to Aikido Association of Northern California (AANC) to take into consideration the many people represented by the association who are not black belt holders. By 2001 the AANC had evolved into 3 divisions and had grown to over 90 member dojos. The California Aikido Association (CAA) was formed in 2002, from a majority of the AANC membership, based upon the principle of training together in friendship with a minimum of formal organizational structure. The CAA is affiliated with Hombu Dojo, Aikido Headquarters, in Tokyo, Japan."